#BoldBossTribe :: Hailey Williams

Tell us your bold boss story!:

What inspired me? Well... my business name is Archer Inspired for a reason. Let me tell you why. I started photography about 8 years ago more as a hobby. At this point in time, I wasn't married, so I had my maiden name: Archer. My parents always supported my hobbies and passions and that helped me keep going with photography. But quite honestly, I never took it that seriously and I never thought that photography could be anything more than just a hobby. The years went on and my love of photography was still just a hobby.

Then 2014 rolled around, and that was a big year for me. In March I married my best friend and biggest supporter, Jacob. He always encouraged me to pick up my camera and always gave me that extra boost of support that I needed. It was only a few months later that I was asked by a couple I knew if I would photograph their wedding. WHAT?! This was my first wedding, they paid me like $500, I had no idea what I was doing and they knew this... but I did it. I mean, we all have to start somewhere right? That wedding jumpstarted my photography business into more than a hobby. It was at that moment I realized I could make money doing this. That I could take my hobby and love for this creative art and turn it into my career. The concept of the two worlds colliding seemed so impossible to me, but I knew that every creative business started somewhere, and this was mine. That was the creation of "Archer Photography."

A year or so later, my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our first child, a son. This unexpected surprise, shook up our "plans" that we had for our next three or so years. We always wanted to start a family, but we didn't know that time would be now. I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I wanted to be there for my kids and raise them from home. Since being parents wasn't a part of our current plan, I didn't think we would financially be able to handle it all, but my husband provided for us which allowed me to stay at home with our son. This pushed me to pursue my photography full time and also pursue website design and marketing for small business creatives. A month after he was born, we moved from where we were born and raised in the Central Valley of California, up to the Bay Area to pursue greater dreams. This means that the business that I had established would be uprooted and moved to a new area where I knew no one. I really didn't think I would be able to do it and would probably have to throw in the towel. But shortly after moving I decided to ditch the negative doubts and I connected with a few local photography groups, I networked, and again, I took the plunge.

We've been here for just over six months now and I've been able to book three weddings in the area, and over 15 other photography sessions. Without my son, I know I wouldn't be pursuing what used to be "just a hobby" full time. I'd be working a 9-5 somewhere not living out my real passion. Because of him, Archer Inspired was created. OH! Did I mention, we named our son Archer too? My maiden name, then my son's name, then my business name.... all of it inspired me, all of it created Archer Inspired which made one hell of a bold boss!

We're all about bold boss moments, tell us about one of yours!:

One of my goals was to get 12 weddings for the year of 2017... which is A LOT for me. The most I have shot in a year as the primary photographer was three. I'm proud to say that currently I already have eight! I have three weddings up here in the Bay Area and five weddings back home in the Central Valley. I'm confident that I will be able to get the other four, no problem!

What advice or words of encouragement do you have for the Bold Boss Tribe?:

My advice would be to pursue. Pursue your dream, pursue your love, pursue your goals. Without pursuing what inspires you, you're stagnant, you're at a lull. Pursuing what you love will result in you doing what you love. What can be greater than that!? Even when you feel like you can't or that it may seem impossible... keep pursuing and pushing forward. You got this!